Welcome to AAUW Midland (MI) Branch, Inc.!

The AAUW Midland (MI) Branch, Inc. was established in 1934. It is comprised of approximately 100 members from Midland and the surrounding area who come together to work on philanthropic projects as well as on topics of mutual interest. The branch holds General Meetings that are open to the public.

The AAUW Midland Branch, Inc. is on Facebook! ____________________________________________________________________

Make Friends and Make a Difference with AAUW!

Consider joining the Midland Branch of AAUW! If you join at a public event (such as one of our general meetings or at our Used Book Sale) you will receive 50 percent off our national dues. Enjoy this nice incentive as you become part of an organization that supports women and provides many opportunities for personal growth and camaraderie.

AAUW Statement: It’s Time to Close the Gender Pay Gap

September 12, 2018

WASHINGTON — The following statement was issued by AAUW Chief Executive Officer Kimberly Churches in response to recently released U.S. Census Bureau data on the gender pay gap.

“Today’s news that the gender pay gap remains stuck at 20 cents on the dollar reminds us once again that we need to accelerate our efforts to eliminate this inequity once and for all.

Women face a pay gap from the minute they enter the workforce, and that gap grows exponentially throughout their careers. It exists in nearly every profession, for hourly and salaried employees, and in every region of the country. The latest data offers further proof that the gap is even more significant for Black women (39 cent gap) and Latinas (47 cent gap).

Unless we change course, the gap between men and women’s earnings will not close until 2106. In fact, the pay gap has only decreased by a nickel over the past 20 years.

But working together, we’re confident that we can achieve pay equity by 2030.

At AAUW, we’re committed to advocating for stronger equal pay laws, working with employers to improve practices and cultures, and empowering women to successfully negotiate their own financial futures. We’re urging Congress to update and strengthen current law by passing the Paycheck Fairness Act. We’re calling on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to implement crucial pay data collection through the EEO-1 which would enable them to identify trends in wage discrimination and encourage voluntary compliance by employers. These are important comprehensive approaches to closing the pay gap for all workers.

Through our Work Smart initiative, AAUW will train 10 million women around the country in salary negotiation by 2022.

We’re off to a strong start:

We’ve teamed up with Boston Mayor Marty Walsh to train 85,000 of the women in the city in salary negotiation by 2021. Similar efforts are underway in five additional cities.

November Branch Program

With Special Guest, Mary Pollock, AAUW of Michigan

Thursday, November 8, 7pm, Trinity Lutheran Church

Mary Pollock, AAUW of MI, will be our speaker. Mary handles AAUW of MI priority legislative issues at the Capitol including education that promotes gender fairness, equity and diversity, economic self-sufficiency for all women as well as equality, individual rights and social justice for a diverse society. She will be talking about Michigan election results and what’s next. The meeting is open to the public and will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church. More information will be in the November Twig.

AAUW of Michigan member leaders through our state and local branch organization work to ensure our voices are heard ion the issues that impact Michigan women and their families.

Find great bargains at the AAUW Midland Branch Fall Used Book Sale September 28, 29 and 30, 2018 at the Midland Mall! (in the center court, between Younkers and Ruby Tuesday)The Used Book Sale hours are 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Sunday hours are 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Sunday is “bag day”!Books are sorted into many categories including suspense, romance, westerns, fiction, nonfiction, cookbooks, collectibles and children’s books.
• Mosthardcover books are priced at $2
• Mostpaperbacks are $1 to $2
• Others are priced as markedDonate your books! Sale proceeds from your generous book donations help to fund our Scholarships! Collection barrels are located at Family Fare, Kroger, Sanford Food Center and at the Midland Mall (at the two main entrances: Food Court entrance and the entrance next to Ruby Tuesday). Donation barrels will be out on September 7, 2018. The last day to place books in the barrels is September 24, 2018. Please, no encyclopedias or magazines.*******************************************

Midland Public School Candidate Forum

The AAUW Midland Branch and the League of Women Voters of the Midland Area are jointly sponsoring a candidate forum for a seat on the Midland Public School Board on Tuesday, September 25 at 7:00 p.m. The Forum will be held in the Midland Public Schools Administration Building Board Room, 600 E. Carpenter Street. There are five candidates running for three open seats this year. The candidates are: Patrick Frazee (incumbent), Jon Lauderbach, Philip Rausch, Pam Singer (incumbent), and Kurt Yockey

AAUW National Highlights

The 2018–19 award year kicked off with the release of our updated online Fellowships and Grants directory in which you can find out more about the remarkable women and organizations from your area! To learn more about AAUW’s fellowships and grants programs and past awardees, visit our fellowships and grants web page and read our Following the Fellows blog series. Read More.

Supreme Court Statue via Flickr Davis Staedtler

Supreme Court Review Call
Join us on July 26 we review several of the significant decisions reached by the Supreme Court of the United States during the October 2017 term. Ebonee Avery-Washington, LAF program manager, will host the conference call and Deborah J. Vagins, AAUW’s senior vice president of public policy and research, will share her analysis of cases that impact our most fundamental rights. Register Today.

Statue of Lady Justice in the Romerplatz of Frankfurt, Hessen, Germany

AAUW Issues: Federal Judicial Nominations
AAUW’s Public Policy Priorities supports “a fair, balanced, and independent judiciary” to ensure constitutional protection for the civil rights of all individuals. Federal courts up to and including the Supreme Court are often also the last, best hope for women who have experienced discrimination in education, employment, health care, and other aspects of their lives. Get the Facts

At the 2018 National Conference for College Women Student Leaders, nearly 800 students from around the world gathered to build community and sharpen their leadership skills. Here are some of our favorite moments that had us clapping, snapping, and thinking hard about the future. Read More.

Deeper In Debt Figure 4

Women’s Student Debt Crisis in the United States
This report reveals that women also take on larger student loans than do men. And because of the gender pay gap, they have less disposable income with which to repay their loans after graduation, requiring more time to pay back their student debt than do men. As a result, women hold nearly two-thirds of the outstanding student debt in the United States — almost $900 billion as of mid-2018. Read More.

Know Your Rights: The Equal Pay Act
Despite the passage of the EPA 55 years ago, women still do not take home wages equal to those of their male peers. If you’re concerned that you may be a victim of sex-based pay discrimination, or if you just want to know more about how the EPA works, this resource covers the basic information to get you started. Read More

AAUW members Minnie Miles (front row, fourth from right) and Reps. Edith Green (left of president, in white suit), Martha Griffiths (second from right), and Julia Hansen (far right) with President John F. Kennedy as he signs the Equal Pay Act into law on June 10, 1963. CREDIT: Abbie Rowe, White House Photographs. Courtesy of John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston

Women’s equity in the workplace has been a focus of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) since our founding in 1881. And while great strides have been made, women are still largely excluded from the most powerful corporate positions in our economy. For Instance, the Fortune 500 list of the largest American corporations recently reached a historic high representation of women CEOs at just 6.4 percent, or about 1 in 15. Women in these companies fill only about one in five senior management positions. AAUW’s latest report on women in leadership at nonprofits is now available online. Read more and download the PDF.

Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds speaks with Iowa Public Radio’s Morning Edition host Clay Masters about her transition to be the next governor. 5/2/2017 Photo by John Pemble

deliver their assessments of the condition of their states. They offer esteem for outstanding achievements among their citizens or groundbreaking triumphs within their legislature, each one assuring that their state is progressing in a positive direction. In addition to recounting the successes of the previous year, the addresses offer an opportunity for governors to speak on any legislative concerns and present a strategic plan to support statewide improvements in these policy areas. Read More .

All K–12 schools and postsecondary institutions that receive federal funds must designate at least one employee to coordinate their efforts to comply with and carry out their responsibilities under Title IX. These Title IX coordinators ensure that all people affected by sex discrimination in schools — students, parents, and employees — are aware of their legal rights. Click to access AAUW’s Title IX Coordinator Interactive Tool.

Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination that violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Title VII is a federal law that prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin, and religion, and it applies to employers with 15 or more employees, including federal, state, and local governments. Even with Title VII’s protections, many people across the country still face sexual harassment in their workplaces. Read more

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a comprehensive federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in education. It covers women and men, girls and boys, and staff and students in any educational institution or program that receives federal funds. Local school districts, colleges and universities, for-profit schools, career and technical education agencies, libraries, and museums are all covered under Title IX. Read more.

EPD state map shareable.

The Gender Pay Gap by State
Every U.S. state has a gender pay gap, and some are wider than others. See how your state’s gender pay gap stacks up. Share this information with state and federal legislators as a call to action for stronger laws and use it to educate folks in your community about the gender pay gap. Click here for the Interactive Map.

The gender pay gap is real and has far-reaching consequences for women’s economic security. Get the pay you deserve. AAUW’s new online, interactive will help you articulate your value in your next negotiation.

The Simple Truth about the Gender Pay Gap (Spring 2017)You’ve probably heard that men are paid more than women are paid over their lifetimes. But what does that mean? Are women paid less because they choose lower-paying jobs? AAUW’s The Simple Truth about the Gender Pay Gap succinctly addresses these issues by going beyond the widely reported 80 percent statistic. Read more.

AAUW Member BenefitsMembership with AAUW means you’re part of a community dedicated to changing the climate for women and girls. As an AAUW member, you will not only have access to valuable resources but also get discounted pricing on some merchandise and services. It’s one more way to express our gratitude for all your support to empower women and improve the lives of millions of women and families. With each purchase, AAUW receives a royalty that is used to support the work we do. Read more.